60 artworks, 12 artists: Avyanna exhibition celebrates art for a cause
In this photo essay, we feature the Oorja collective’s art exhibition on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 965 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
Art collective Oorja recently held a special exhibition at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). See our coverage of earlier exhibitions at this popular cultural hub from 2019 onwards here.
Titled Avyanna, the exhibition kicked off celebrations for International Women’s Day 2026—and also raised funds for a cancer care institution. Oorja means ‘energy’ in Sanskrit, while Avyanna is interpreted as ‘strong, powerful, and beautiful woman’. The exhibition was curated by renowned Bengaluru artist MG Doddamani.
“Avyanna represents the strength of today’s women. It celebrates their success while fully embracing their complexities and imperfections, thus transforming them into sources of power and inspiration,” Doddamani tells YourStory.
The exhibition features 60 artworks by 12 women artists from Bengaluru. The artists are Bina Mirchandani, Esha John, Kanthi V, Neelam Malhotra, Nidhi Bhatia, Pushpa Reddy, Shruti Banerji, Ritu Chawla, Urvi Jacob, Vanaja Bal, Vijaylakshmi Bhaskarala, and Viva Motwani.
Funds raised from the exhibition will be contributed to the Unnati Foundation. The foundation aims to empower underprivileged youth with life skills, vocational training, and job-ready talent.
Its objective is to help youth ‘Learn, Earn and Stand Tall’. The foundation’s activities address the challenges of school dropouts and unemployed youth, and enables participants to lead dignified, self-reliant lives as contributing members of society.
“The exhibition helps pave the way toward a more just and inclusive world. The group show also celebrates International Women’s Day,” Doddamani explains.
Oorja was created as a collective of artists who support social causes and donate to charitable institutions (see our coverage of their exhibitions from 2018 onwards here). Each artist brings a unique perspective and skill to the forefront.
“Viewers can experience a rich spectrum of artistic expressions that are diverse, meaningful, and thought-provoking. The exhibited artworks draw inspiration from personal journeys as well as broader societal themes, offering fresh perspectives and fostering a deep emotional connection with visitors,” Doddamani adds.
The exhibition was inaugurated at BIC by author Shoba Narayan (Monsoon Diary; Namma Bangalore; Food and Faith), Himaja Dakshinamurthy (Co-founder, Blue Tree), and Pavithra Shankar (MD, Brigade Enterprises), along with Doddamani and the artists.
MG Doddamani is an established artist, curator and mentor, and has won a number of awards at the state and national level. He has held many solo shows and more than 200 group shows in India and overseas.
Art is a dynamic force. "Art brings joy, sparks transformation, nurtures inspiration, and creates space for dialogue and collaboration," he observes.
"As artists, we carry the responsibility of contributing to society’s growth in a thoughtful and interconnected way,” Doddamani signs off.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
Oorja Collective
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at BIC.)